The space between archetypical "Music Lover" and archtypical "Audiophile" is wide. We each have some portion of each in us, but there is a balance - you can't be both to the extreme. Too much resolution distracts music, while music itself is capable of doing its magic from AM radio. So Music listening and audio system tweeking are two different interests which complement each other. Whenever someone implies they are the same then all hell breaks loose among dis-allowers. Like the musician that thinks audiophiles are naive suckers. Or the audiophile who thinks musicians are snobby artsy-farters. Judgement of that which is different from you.
The renaissance of tubes, paper drivers, vinyl, are all nods to the music lovers within us audiophiles. The new breed of DACs, high tech cone materials, computer music and smart EQ are nods to the audiophile within us music lovers.
We all started as music lovers. The adoration of technology comes later, and sometimes surpasses the music interest, which is just fine. Just don't tell a music lover that he is crazy for not caring about THD spec, and he won't tell you you are crazy for not knowing who is composer X. Treating other people with respect is the biggest part of it. Just allow everyone to be as they wish. That's what's missing on a lot of the other audio forums. Everyone takes the comments personally.
The current issue of Stereophile has an interesting editorial about this very subject. Worth a read for a change.
